Magical places of Sicily

An escorted tour of Sicily. 8 days/ 7 nights. Land only: arrival in Palermo and departure from Catania

Guaranteed departures with a minimum of 2 participants. 
Our friendly crew of experienced English speaking drivers guides will make your  stay in Sicily an unforgettable experience.

Magical places of Sicily tour: inclusions, terms and conditions, optional excursions

Day 1 –PALERMO AIRPORT - CEFALU'
Arrival at Palermo airport . The tour guide will meet everyone and transfer to the hotel in Cefalù:   Artemis or Alberi del Paradiso 4*(3 nights)  or similar.  Balance of the day at leisure.
8:00pm – Transfer to  Cefalù historical centre  for your welcome dinner at local restaurant . Return to your hotel and overnight
(Dinner included)

Day  2 –PALERMO & MONREALE- CEFALU'
After breakfast  at the  hotel a full day filled with the highlights of Palermo . Visit of the Palatine Chapel (inside the Royal Palace), rich in mosaics and Byzantine decorations. The Cathedral is a sumptuous example of a Norman structure, where  imperial and royal tombs can be visited., The Pretoria Fountain, an unusual concentric circles of nymphs and monsters’ figures and the Martorana church with its fantastic interior decorated with wonderful golden mosaics and elegant frescos added in the 17th century. Continue to the town of Monreale, the Norman “Mons Regalis”. The majestic dome was founded in the 12th century by the Norman king William II. It is 6.340 square meters of polychrome and gold mosaics and the access to the Benedictine cloister makes it one of the most magnificent testimonies of the Norman conquest of Sicily. Return to Cefalù for dinner in hotel and  overnight.
(Breakfast & dinner included)

Day 3 –PALERMO – POLIZZI – CEFALU'
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Parco delle Madonie, passing through central Sicily . Arrival in Polizzi Generosa,  a small, medieval town, with an extraordinary wealth in artwork from the Norman period. Visit of  Polizzi Generosa.  It lies in the Madonie Mountains' Natural Park. This internal region between the Northern Coast and Central Sicily has a wealth of ancient small villages, where many people still live according to the Sicilian traditions.
Have a half-day cooking lesson at the farmhouse of an authentic Sicilian family. The host will demonstrate how to prepare homemade pasta and some special sauces. Lunch with our new friends.
Back to Cefalù for a visit of this picturesque medieval town dominated by the gold- coloured cathedral, a Romanesque jewel built by the Norman king Roger II. The interior is decorated with fabulous mosaics executed in a spectacular array of colours on a gold background. Walking through the small streets of the historical city centre . The old roman lavatory can be seen here as a testimony of the strong ancient  Roman presence here..Dinner and overnight at the hotel

(Breakfast and Lunch  included)

Day 4– PALERMO – AGRIGENTO – TAORMINA AREA-GIARDINI NAXOS
After breakfast departure  for a   full day excursion of  Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples . Admire the beauty of the Concordia Temple among the best preserved of the Greek Temples, the Temple of Giunone , and the Temple of Castore and Polluce, a Doric Temple built around the 5th century A.D.  Its columns have become the symbol of the city.
Late afternoon continue to  Taormina area and check in at the hotel  : Giardini Naxos : Hotel Naxos beach 4*  (4 nights) or in Taormina : Hotel Villa Riis  4* or similar. Dinner in local restaurant  and overnight.
(Breakfast & dinner included)

Day 5 - TAORMINA AREA – CATANIA – SYRACUSE – TAORMINA AREA
After breakfast, departure to Catania. The second largest city in Sicily, is an elegant and busy town, overshadowed by Mount Etna. Because of the predominately black colour of its baroque palaces, the city is also called the Black Pearl of Mediterranean. Visit of the Elephant Square with the black sculpture of an elephant, (symbol of Catania) and the colourful fish market.
Lunch on your own.
Continue  to Syracuse. It was the most important Greek city of antiquity, and a formidable port. Visit of the archaeological park with remarkable Greek and Roman ruins like the theatre, the Latomias, stone quarries with the famous “Ear of Dionysius” and the Roman Amphitheatre. Panoramic tour of Ortigia Island, the heart of the ancient city. Here you can admire the architectural splendours of ancient medieval streets, baroque structures and classic churches. Back to the  hotel  . Dinner on your own and  overnight at the hotel
(Breakfast included)

Day 6 –  TAORMINA  – MT. ETNA – THE GODFATHER'S VILLA       
After breakfast, a fabulous  excursion to Mt. Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe . “No imagination in the world has had the courage to depict such a marvellous sight. There is nowhere on the surface of the globe which  can combine so many striking, sublimely beautiful details.” The words of Patrick Brydone are one of the best way to describe the richness of the great “Mountain”. Optional “excursion” to the peak to be paid on the spot (weather and volcano activity permitting).
Following the excursion continue the drive to Tenuta San Michele, an ancient estate located on the slopes of the volcano Etna. The farm, which belongs to the noble family of the Baron Scammacca del Murgo, is surrounded by extensive vineyards and has a panoramic view of both Mt. Etna and the sea. Mt. Etna is the highest volcano in Europe. The climate and the volcanic soil help give wines a unique mineral taste typical of the region around Mt. Etna. Wine tasting and lunch.
Departure for a special place  with a  visit of a  Castle “ the house of  DON CORLEONE” This beautiful looking residence (left) was built in 1700 as a country house for the Nobility.  The house was location for several scenes throughout the Godfather films including the un-intentional murder of Apollonia in The Godfather and also the brutal revenge killing of Don Ciccio, by Vito Corleone in Godfather part II. Walk into the  castle and meet the owner  that will let you introduce into the aim of the film. Back to the hotel. Dinner on your own . Overnight
(Breakfast  and lunch   included)

Day 7- TAORMINA on YOUR OWN        
Have a day at leisure in Taormina which offers also historical and cultural attractions, such as the Greek Theatre, used as stage for many important international events. You can also admire the various buildings in Corso Umberto, the main road that in the summer evenings is always crowded and just in the middle it widens on a "belvedere", with an unforgettable view on the whole bay. Tonight, farewell dinner in a  typical restaurant  .
(Breakfast & dinner included)

Day 8 – TAORMINA – CATANIA AIRPORT       
After breakfast, transfer to Catania airport for your return flight..
(Breakfast included)         ,